back at it

School started back a week ago, and so far we are all surviving and even thriving!


The first day was Thursday, August 14th. The morning went SO smoothly, thank goodness. School starts 10 minutes earlier this year and 10 minutes really makes a difference. But I did everything I could the night before and woke up super early to finish up. Thankfully, both of my school boys woke up easily and happily. That were thrilled to be heading off to school. Sam is not my morning kid AT ALL but he got dressed, are breakfast, and even posed for pictures with no complaints!

Drop off went as smoothly as can be expected. Noah was totally fine. He's in class with some of his best buds from last year so he was just thrilled about seeing them.

(Their PRECIOUS principal)

Sam did well, too. He was completely fine until his sweet teachers asked to take his picture and put his name tag on. He wasn't really on board with either of those things ;) But really he did great and literally didn't even look up from his blocks when we were telling him goodbye.

(He really is thrilled to be in class with his buddy Jay, even if it doesn't look like it. Also I love how his eyes are still so sleepy in every picture. Most days this summer he was still asleep at this time!)

Things have continued to go smoothly since day 1. Noah is just in love with first grade and already learning so much. Last night he asked me if we could sit on the couch together and "talk about math". Ha! This year he starts spelling tests, reading groups, math assessment, etc. and has homework 3 nights a week. School is starting to feel real!

Sam goes twice a week and this is the first time ever that he has stayed somewhere full day and had lunch and nap. He was completely exhausted when I picked him up on the first full day! Like, super weepy and even admitting how tired he was. But after a snack and some snuggle time on the couch while Noah read to us, he was great. He loves staying all day and going to music class or P.E., having two recess times, going to centers, resting at nap time, etc.

I think my sweet school boys are going to have the greatest year!


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summer lovin'

School starts one week from today. Just typing that creates a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I know there will be years when I am ready for the beginning of a new school year, but this year I. Am. Not. Ready.

That's partly because we've had such a great summer around here and I just don't want it to end! We've found a great balance of busyness and freedom that has been perfect for everybody! Noah prefers to be busy, and Sam prefers to just "hang out". I'm somewhere in the middle. This summer I think everyone has had just the right mix.

Way back at the beginning of summer, the very first week of June, Noah went to his first ever week of Kanakuk KampOut. This is a day camp that Kanakuk puts on, and it was the perfect introduction to the whole camp experience. It helped that this session was held at Noah's school, so he was comfortable there. The first day he got overheated, which was no fun, but the rest of the week was great!

The week after Kamp was our trip to the beach, which was one of my very very favorite parts of this summer. Actually probably my tip-top favorite part.

We have spent a LOT of time at the pool this summer. Noah has become a total little fish, and it is finally possible for me to take all 3 kids to the pool by myself because I don't have to watch him quite as closely. I can trust that he'll be ok to go jump off the diving board or slide down the slide under the lifeguards' watchful eyes while I float with Silas and keep an eye on Sam. Sam is pretty easy at the pool, too. He still wear his floaties, which is really just because it is easier for me. He probably could have done swim lessons this year and started swimming on his own, but I just wasn't ready for him to have that much independence in the pool.  All 3 boys absolutely love the pool, so it is one of our favorite summertime activities!

 (Noah with his swim teacher, Miss Conley)

Both of the big boys (and Josh!) have also played their fair share of golf this summer. I love that this is something that they all like to do, and I hope Silas enjoys it someday too! Usually Josh will take one of the boys to play at least once a week. Noah also went to golf camp again this summer, and of course he loved it yet again!

On top of Kanakuk and golf camp, Noah also went to 3 basketball camps this summer! One of them lasted a week and the other two were a couple of days each. Noah absolutely loves, loves, loves basketball. He plays every single day. He is also completely obsessed with Michael Jordan. Which is hilarious, since it's 2014 and all, but I love it. So of course, basketball camp was right up his alley and he had the best time at each one. If you asked him, he would probably say his favorite was Trojan camp at UALR, because he was coached by the coach and players from the Trojan team.

Sweet Sam, it can't be easy to always be along for the ride and never get to join the fun. His day is coming! For now he really does enjoy being a spectator :) And at Trojan camp, Coach Shields was nice enough to give him his own ball too!

As if all these fun camps weren't enough, Noah also got to go to "Camp Beach" with Mar Mar and Papa D. They took him and Brady to Destin for an entire week of fun! We sure missed him at home, but he had an absolute blast playing on the beach, boogie boarding, driving go-karts, playing putt-putt and real golf, shopping, going out to eat, and just being spoiled in general! :) I'm so glad that he got to have this special time with them!

The week that Noah was at the beach, Sam got to go to VBS and he had the best time doing that! He felt like such a big kid. He has also gone to Mother's Day Out one morning a week this summer, and it has been good for him to get out of the house a bit and socialize. He sure loves to be at home though! And we have definitely had plenty of low key time this summer too. We have had the most incredibly mild summer, weather wise. Like many many days that we didn't even get into the 80s. WHAT?!? Amazing. I've even caught myself complaining a few times that it's "too cool" to go to the pool! But the boys have enjoyed getting to spend more time outside and I have certainly enjoyed not breaking a sweat every time I open the door.

And now it's almost over. Big sad face over here. Noah is excited about going to back to school, and Sam is super excited because he's starting preschool at Noah's school this year, just 2 days a week, and he is super pumped to be in "big boy school". So I'm happy for them. But sad for me. I think partly because this is the first year that Noah will be in school all day, every day. He was in the half day kindergarten class and although he stayed all day on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I had him home with me on Tues/Thurs afternoons. And I LOVED that. It was a great little schedule for us and I'm going to miss it--miss HIM!--so much. I'm also sad for completely selfish reasons. Like I hate change. So adjusting to a new schedule, new teachers, new friends it just tough for me. It's tough for the boys too, they just don't know yet that it is going to be tough. Also, as much as I love and thrive on routine in general, the school year routine is not my friend right now. It is just plain hard to have 3 kids in 3 totally different routines. Having a baby, a preschooler, and an elementary schooler is a challenge. Gone are Silas's good naps, because we will be in carpool line. Gone are nice calm mornings in our pajamas, because we'll be rushing to get out the door. Gone are later bedtimes and trips to the golf course after dinner or playing in the yard until dark. Waaaa waaaa.

Hello, pity party! I'm done complaining now. I'm truly just so thankful for the incredible summer that we have had together. And really, I'm looking forward to seeing how the boys learn and grow and thrive this year, because I know that they will! So bring on the backpacks, pencils, blue journals and take-home folders, because ready or NOT.....